Eklezyas 10
1 Mouch mouri bay lwil pafen yon move odè; Se konsa yon ti kras foli gen pouvwa pou depase sajès ak respè.
Dying flies ruin the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a brief and limited foolishness.
2 Kè a yon moun saj mennen li adwat, men kè a moun san konprann nan mennen l agoch.
The heart of a wise man is in his right hand, and the heart of a foolish man is in his left hand.
3 Menm lè ensanse a mache nan lari li manke bon tèt. Li montre tout moun ke se moun fou li ye.
Moreover, as a foolish man is walking along the way, even though he himself is unwise, he considers everyone to be foolish.
4 Si kòlè a wa a vin monte kont ou, pa abandone pozisyon ou; paske rete kalm ka evite gwo ofans.
If the spirit of one who holds authority rises over you, do not leave your place, because attentiveness will cause the greatest sins to cease.
5 Gen yon mal mwen konn wè anba solèy la, tankou yon fot ki sòti nan sila k ap gouvène a——
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, proceeding from the presence of a prince, as if by mistake:
6 Foli plase nan anpil kote byen wo pandan rich yo chita kote ki ba.
a foolish man appointed to a high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath him.
7 Mwen konn wè esklav ki monte sou cheval ak prens k ap mache atè tankou esklav.
I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking on the ground like servants.
8 Sila ki fouye fè yon twou ka byen tonbe ladann, e yon sèpan ka mòde gèrye a ki kraze yon miray.
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever tears apart a hedge, a snake will bite him.
9 Sila ki taye wòch yo ka blese ladann, e sila ki fann gwo bout bwa a kapab an danje.
Whoever carries away stones will be harmed by them. And whoever cuts down trees will be wounded by them.
10 Si rach la pa gen tay, e li pa file pwent li; alò, li va egzije plis fòs. Avantaj a sajès se reyisi!
If the iron is dull, and if it was not that way before, but has been made dull by much labor, then it will be sharpened. And wisdom will follow after diligence.
11 Si sèpan an mòde avan li vin chame, nanpwen pwofi.
Whoever slanders in secret is nothing less than a snake that bites silently.
12 Pawòl ki soti nan bouch sila ki saj la plen ak gras, men pawòl a moun ensanse a fin manje l nèt;
Words from the mouth of a wise man are graceful, but the lips of a foolish man will throw him down with violence.
13 Kòmansman diskou ensanse a se foli, e fen diskou li se plen mechanste ak betiz.
At the beginning of his words is foolishness, and at the end of his talk is a most grievous error.
14 Malgre tout sa, moun ensanse a ogmante pawòl li yo. Pèsòn pa konnen sa ki va rive, e kilès kab di li sa ki va rive apre li.
The fool multiplies his words. A man does not know what has been before him, and who is able to reveal to him what will be in the future after him?
15 Zèv a moun ensanse a tèlman fatige l, ke li pa konnen kijan pou li rive nan vil la.
The hardship of the foolish will afflict those who do not know to go into the city.
16 Malè a ou menm, O peyi ki gen jenn ti gason kon wa; ak prens yo k ap fè fèt granmaten.
Woe to you, the land whose king is a boy, and whose princes consume in the morning.
17 Beni se ou menm, O peyi ki gen yon fis byen prepare kon wa a ak prens ki manje nan pwòp lè yo, pou bay fòs, e non pou fè banbòch vin sou.
Blessed is the land whose king is noble, and whose princes eat at the proper time, for refreshment and not for self-indulgence.
18 Akoz parès ak neglijans, twati a vin pann, e nan enpridans kay la vin koule.
By laziness, a framework shall be brought down, and by the weakness of hands, a house shall collapse through.
19 Yon gwo tab manje fèt pou yo rejwi yo, diven pou fè kè kontan; epi lajan se repons pou tout bagay.
While laughing, they make bread and wine, so that the living may feast. And all things are obedient to money.
20 Anplis, nan chanm a kouche ou, pa bay wa a madichon; e nan chanm a kouche ou, pa bay yon moun rich madichon. Paske yon zwazo syèl la ka pote bri a, e sa ki gen zèl yo ka fè yo konnen bagay la.
You should not slander the king, even in your thoughts, and you should not speak evil of a wealthy man, even in your private chamber. For even the birds of the air will carry your voice, and whatever has wings will announce your opinion.
